Isabau to begin producing sandwich panels

“The decision to invest in a production unit in Romania was made based on the potential for growth of the construction material market, and the possibility of exporting to emerging markets,” according to a statement for Business Standard by Claudiu Sava, Sales Manager of Isobau Rom Grup, the Greek group’s local subsidiary.

Sava indicated that the factory will cover 2.5 hectares, and include production and office space, of over 8,000 square meters, and a storage platform of some 7,000 sqm. The unit, whose annual maximum production capacity is expected to be 1.5 million square meters by 2013, will produce polyurethane insulated sandwich panels, metal panels, and steel sections. Some 30 percent of its production will be exported to Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Moldova and the Ukraine.

Isobau Rom Grup was established in 2004, and distributes thermo-insulating panels, zinc-coated panels, metal panels, and other metal accessories, imported from Greece, mostly to construction companies but also to end users. The company’s turnover in 2007 was €3 mln, double that year-on-year, and it is expecting an increase of 30-40 percent in 2008. Company representatives are targeting turnover of over €25 mln once the Glina factory is completed.

The volume of the sandwich panel market in Romania rose by 50 percent last year, to over 6 million sqm, worth over €120 mln. Main producers on the local market are Ruukki, Megaprofil, Kontirom, Isopan, Metalpalst or Alubel.